Conditioning apparatus for steamheating systems



P 1 F. J. MILLER 2,427,016

CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS ZSheets-Sheet l Filed June 21, 1945 INVENTO R ATTORNEYS FRANK J.MILLER Sept. 9, 1947. F. J. MILLER 2,427,016

CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR STEAM HEATING SYSTEMS Filed June 21, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FRANK J. MILLER AT ORNEYS Patented Sept. 9, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT orricsv CONDITIONING APPARATUS FOR STEAM- HEATING SYSTEMS I Frank J. Miller, South Milwaukee, Wis.; Lillian B. Miller, executrix of said Frank J. Miller, deceased, assignor to Pressure-Jet'Systems, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Wisconsin Application June 21, 1945, Serial No. 600,813

1 Claim.. (01. 219-39) My invention pertains to an apparatus for treating steam heating systems, more particularly to a unit for introducing chemical correctives into all parts of the steam line or heating system for removing scale, corrosion, rust and oil therefrom.

The invention has primarily for its object to simplify and increase the efficiency of the apparatus of the foregoing character.

A specific object of my invention is, among other things, to provide an automatically controlled switch exposed to the pressure in the tank and adapted to make and break the heating element circuit, whereby the steam pressure developed in the tank may be maintained at approximately the pressure in the steam line.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the in vention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter described, and more particularly defined by the appended claim, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the herein disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of the claim.

In the accompanying drawings is illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of the present invention constructed according to the best mode so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 illustrates a sectional front elevation of an apparatus embodying the features of my invention, with parts broken away and in full lines, the section being indicated by line 1-! of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus, with parts broken away to more clearly illustrate structural features; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the electric connections for controlling the tank fluid.

Referring by characters to the drawings, 1 indicates a tank adapted to contain a chemical fluid 2. Mounted upon the top of the tank is a boxed housing 3 having a front face plate 3'. A filling pipe 4 communicates with the top of the tank and terminates above the housing with a filling funnel 4', the pipe being provided with a valve 5 having a hand wheel 5 extending beyond the face plate.

The tank has extended therein a fluid discharge pipe 6, the same terminating adjacent to its bottom. This pipe carries a check valve 6 and a controlling valve 1, the handle I of which extends through the face plate for convenience in manipulation. The extension 6 of the fluid discharge pipe, which extension is coupled to the valve 1, is preferably flexible and of any predetermined length, whereby it may conveniently be coupled to a steam line pipe 8, as indicated in Figure 1. As a safety measure, the upperwall of the tank is provided with a blow-off spring. controlled exhaust head 9.

Extending into the tank, a predetermined distance from its bottom, is a make and break conductor rod [0 having an insulator head It), which head is electrically connected by a conductor wire II to a magnet l2 encased in a box l3, forming part of a starting switch, as indicated in the diagram Figure 3, the structure being hereinafter more fully described.

Extending longitudinally of the tank I and near its bottom is an electric heating element 14; The heating element is coupled to a main electric circuit by wires l5l5', which wires are extended into the switch box [3 and through suitable connections, under spring control, are coupled to line wires l6l6', as shown by the diagram view.

In order to automatically regulate the steam pressure developed in the tank I, I provide a pressure controlling piston ll reciprocatively mounted in a pipe head I8, which communicates directly with the upper wall of the chemical tank. The pipe head, in turn, is connected to a pressure controlled switch mechanism housed in a box l9, and said pressure control, make and break switch," is diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings.

While I have illustrated the pressure controlled switch, in the form of a reciprocative piston head, actuated in one direction, by the steam pressure in the tank, in opposition to a spring, it is understood that all of the switch mechanism may be varied indefinitely, for example, as a substitute for the piston movement, a diaphragm may be utilized. In order that the operator may, at all times, be advised as to the steam pressure developed in the chemical tank, I provide a sight gauge 20 upon the face plate 3', and said sight gauge is controlled by tank pressure, through a tube 20.

It is also convenient to provide a signal light 2!, on what might be termed an instrument board. This light is electrically connected, in the main circuit, by wires 22-22.

Referring now particularly to the diagrammatic view, Figure 3, the piston ll and its associated rod is connected to a pivoted lever 23, and the opposite end of this lever 23 is connected to a tension adjusting screw 24, by a coil spring 25. The piston end of said lever 23 is connected to a pivoted mercury switch 26 by a link 26'.

When the steam pressure, in the chemical tank, is at normal, the make and break pressure controlled switch mechanism, just described, is in the position as shown by the diagram view, Figure 3. In this tilted position of the mercury element, the conductor wire I is broken and attached to contact elements 2l-21, carried by the switch, and in this normal position of said switch, the mercury will close the break in the conductor wires Iii-I5, whereby current flows through the heater.

While in the exemplification of my invention I have employed a mercury switch, for making and breaking the heater circuit, I may, without departing from the spirit of my invention, employ any suitable switch, for opening and closing the circuit.

The trip starting switch, for opening and closing the main auxiliary heating circuit, has a push button 28 that extends through the face plate 3. This push button is connected to a spring metal switch arm 29, carrying contact blocks 3Il30 and a centrally positioned armature 3|. The main electric circuit, for the heating element, is closed by pressing the push button 28 inwardly. In this position the content blocks 30 will bridge pairs of spaced contact points 32-32 and 33--33, whereby the general supply line Iii-l6 is directed into the heating element main circuit l5-l5' to heat the chemical fluid at the desired temperature.

When the contact blocks 30 have completed heating circuit, the magnetic coil I2 is energized, through a wire connection 34-34, from a. transformer B, which wire 34--34' completes, what might be termed, an auxiliary circuit, through the wire H to the rod l0 and grounded. Hence, when the magnetic coil is energized, it will hold the switch arm 29 in its closed position and the heating element I4 will continue to function.

When the pressure in the tank rises, to approximately the equal pressure in the steam line pipe 8, the chemical fluid may be introduced into said stem line, by opening or cracking the valve I and the apparatus will continually supply the chemical fluid to the steam line, until the 4 pressure rises above the required amount, whereby the piston ll will be lifted to tilt the mercury switch 26 and thus break the main circuit to the heating element.

As the fluid cools down and the tank pressure lowers, the spring 25, of the pressure switch mechanism, will function to cause the mercury pot to again assume the position indicated in Figure 3, whereby the main circuit is closed to thus again heat up the chemical fluid. Hence, it will be noted that this make and break action of the main circuit will cause the heater to automatically function, whereby chemical fluid is cut off, or introduced into the steam line.

Should the chemical fluid 2 drop below the rod l0, the auxiliary circuit from said rod, which controls the magnet, will be broken, whereby the switch arm 29 will rock to its normal position and break the main heating circuit to thus keep the heating element always submerged and insure the same against burning out.

Changes in details may be made, which do not depart from the spirit and scope of my claim, and-what I claim as new is:

A device for supplying a chemical to a steam or likeline comprising a container for a liquid chemical, an electric heater immersed in said liquid chemical, a main electric circuit including said heater, a trip switch for said main circuit, pressure operated means communicating with said container for operating said tripswitch to open and close said circuit, an auxiliary circuit including a conductor rod normally immersed in said liquid and extending a predetermined distance into the container toward the bottom thereof, a hand switch for closing the main and auxiliary circuit, and means for holding said hand switch in circuit closing position until the liquid falls below the conductor rod.

FRANK J. MILLER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,646,746 Carroll Oct. 25, 1927 1,182,688 Kirby May 9, 1916 1,662,935 Odell Mar. 20, 1928 

